Working mum Janey Milligan tells us how she has climbed the ladder in the male-dominated world of construction.
Name:??? ?Janey Milligan
Age: 47
Industry: Construction
Job Title: Managing director
Company: Construction Dispute Resolution
Relationship Status: Married
Children: Lydia 17, Chloe 15
How long have you worked in the Construction Industry?
I have worked in the Construction Industry since I was 18 when I started as an apprentice quantity surveyor with John M Simpson and Co in Cumbernauld, at the same time I was studying for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Professional Examinations by part time education at Glasgow College of Building and Printing.
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What made you go in to the industry?
I started in the industry completely by chance. I was an outdoor person with a kind of tomboy attitude; the result of being the daughter of a haulage contractor and liking being around lorries. I had been accepted to do maths at Glasgow University but my heart was not in it and everyone around me knew it.
My mother, fortunately, saw an advert in the paper for an apprentice quantity surveyor and very sensibly suggested that I go for the interview and do it for a few months over the holidays – if I did not like it then I could go to university as planned. I got the job and loved it in the first week and never once considered chucking it in and going to university as had been my initial plan.
What qualifications did you need to enter in to your profession?
When I entered the profession as a part time student I enrolled for the professional examinations of the RICS by studying at Glasgow College of Building and Printing. At that time your needed three highers including qualifications in English and Maths.
There a lot of stereotypes and misconceptions about working in a male-dominated industry do you have any myths you would like to dispel?
Working in a male dominated industry is not as difficult as some people would make it seem, really it is just working with people. It does not matter whether you are working with males or females it is all about getting on with people and developing good working relationships and understanding and respecting each other. Some people might think that working in the construction industry requires you to be a bit macho but that is one of the misconceptions I would like to clear up. If you are doing a professional job in the construction industry all that is important is that you are good – it is irrelevant if you are male or female.
Do you get the same/more pay as your male counterparts?
As far as I understand I have always earned the same as anybody with the same qualification and experience, regardless of whether they were male or female. Everyone has to stand up for what they believe in and request the appropriate remuneration for their skills and experience and it should make no difference whatsoever if you are male or female.
How do you manage childcare?
I was very fortunate when I had my first child, although I only took six weeks off on maternity leave. I was working with an understanding employer who noted that hours may need to be more nine to five than perhaps they previously had been. It is without doubt in the construction industry that you have to work longer hours in order to become recognised as someone who will put in the time to get ahead.
Fortunately, my employer did recognise that I had put in the effort prior to becoming pregnant and when I had my first daughter did accept that my working hours may have to become a bit restricted to accommodate childcare. Initially when I had my first daughter she was with a childminder, which meant I could not drop her off until a certain time in the morning and I had to pick her up at a certain time in the evening.
When I went on to have my second child I moved in to education and was a lecturer for a time at Glasgow Caledonian University; and they could not have been a more accommodating employer with their nursery facilities on site. For me this was a great incentive because although I was dropping my children off at nursery in the morning I always knew they were within 300 yards of where I was working, which was hugely important and comforting at times when I did feel the inevitable guilt about being away from my children.
Subsequently, I got the opportunity to start up in business on my own and as my career developed and became more demanding, my husband?s circumstances of employment allowed him more opportunity to become involved with the children. We are very fortunate in that he became more available for the children at the times that he needed to be and I was able to pursue my goals of becoming self employed and developing a company. I am very lucky that we have managed this transition of the traditional roles with relative ease and our children have developed and matured unscathed.
Do you find it hard to take time off for childcare reasons because you work in a male dominated industry?
When I was working at Glasgow Caledonian University my children were on site only a few hundred yards away and I was able to visit them during the day as and when I needed to, and the university was very flexible in its arrangements. I think I have been very lucky to hold down a male dominated career, have a family and subsequently move on to build a business. A lot of it is probably down to attitude, but some of it must be down to luck.
Describe a defining moment in your career
A defining moment of my career was the introduction of statutory adjudication. I studied as a quantity surveyor and worked in private practice, including setting up a quantity surveyor division in an architectural practice. This was followed by a stint in education where I studied for a Master degree in construction law.
I had always harboured hopes of having my own firm and the introduction of statutory adjudication opened the door for me to combine all my experience and be ahead of the competition by starting CDR, which offered amongst others things, adjudication services.
Have you had any embarrassing situations?
On one or two occasions I have attended meetings with a male colleague who was my assistant. I was assumed to be the assistant and questions were directed at my colleague. It is always a little embarrassing when everyone realises who the boss is!
What advice would you give to Mums who may have considered doing a job like yours but decided against it because of any misconceptions?
Nothing is as bad as it ever seems. If you want it go for it, don?t be afraid to ask for the things you want at the same time as you promote your good points. Women are always said to be better at multi-tasking and irrespective of whether it is a career in construction or medicine this is the key to a successful career!